Days in a Calendar by Rabeya Jalil. Courtesy: ArtChowk Gallery.
Velkommen nytår
lige hvad vi behøver
den går ikke længre på den gamle manér
jeg vil gerne gøre mit til
og andres til
at højne hinanden
Jeg lover at gøre mit bedste
ikke gøre visse ting for tit
og iøvrigt ikke gå for vidt
gøre hvad jeg kan for ikke at smaske
svede
glemme
fare op
ikke blande mig i alt for meget
men dog ha begge hænder
i hanke med adskilligt
daglig virke lindrende
huske at hilse
jævnligt skrive under på det gode
komme plaster på det onde
vinke til det gamle
gå ind for det nye
gøre det ene
holde op med det andet
for en tid
jovist kan det nytte
hvis bare man vender blikket indad
samt udad
luger ud i sit privatliv
såvel som i Congo
indser sine fejl
som man indser de andres
griber denne lejlighed
til at gribe ind
med beslutninger
forsætter
afkald
det er jo kun nytår én gang om året
og sku man få tilbagefald
(man er dog kun menneske
og året er så langt
verden så stor
og fremtiden så uvis)
behøver løfter ikke betyde en døjt
hvis man ikke sir dem højt.
~ Benny Andersen
Welcome new year
just what we need
the old way’s not good enough anymore
I’d like to do my part
and other people’s part
to uplift one another
I promise to try my best
not to do certain things too often
and besides not to go too far
make an effort not to chew loudly
sweat
forget
lose my temper
not to meddle too much
but still to engage both hands
in boosting up plenty
to be soothing daily
remember to say hello
frequently put my signature on the good
put band-aids on the bad
wave to the old
embrace the new
do one thing
stop doing the other
for a while
sure it can help
if you just turn your attention inward
as well as outward
pull weeds in your private life
as well as in the Congo
recognize your mistakes
like you recognize those of others
seize this opportunity
to make inroads
with decisions
resolutions
renunciations
you know it’s only new year’s once a year
and if you should have relapses
(we are only human
and the year is so long
the world so large
and the future so uncertain)
it won’t matter that your vows were not obeyed
if you don’t tell anyone they were made.
~ trans. Michael Goldman
Benny Andersen is the foremost living poet and lyricist in Denmark. First published in 1960, he has produced 21 volumes of poetry along with numerous records, stories, screenplays and children’s books. Now 85, he continues to write and to perform to sold-out audiences in Denmark. He lives near Copenhagen.
Michael Goldman taught himself Danish over 25 years ago to help him win the heart of a lovely Danish girl—and they have been married ever since. Since leaving his career as a remodeling contractor two years ago, his translations have appeared in 16 literary journals. He is also a jazz clarinetist. Michael Goldman lives in Florence, Mass.
